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Ensiferum - what name would suit a band playing battle metal better, than a name that in Latin means "the Swordbearer"?

After finding the band in 1995, Ensiferum's mastermind, guitarist/ main songwriter/ vocalist Markus Toivonen has taken the band safely through turmoils of line-up changes and busy schedules ever since. The band's career fully took flight in 2000 after ... Read more in Amazon's Ensiferum Store

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Track Listings

Editorial Reviews

2009 release from the Finnish Folk Metallers, their fourth album overall. From Afar was produced by Tero Kinnunen (Nightwish, Amorphis) and Janne Joutsenniemi and was mixed by Hiili Hiilesmaa (H.I.M., Sentenced, Amorphis).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

There really isn't much I can say to do justice to From Afar. This is one of the band's most ambitious albums and they deliver fully, as I was not disappointed with a single track. The sound of the album sounds like Ensiferum, but mixed with somewhat of a Bal-Sagoth vibe in both the riffing and the orchestrations. Also, this album definitely takes Ensiferum's use of traditional and orchestral instruments and steps it up about 5 notches. The music on this album just sounds bigger than their pervious albums. Petri's vocals and playing have also improved, showing that the former Norther frontman is finally beginning to fill the very large shoes that Jari left behind when he departed from the band to pursue his Wintersun solo project. The album contains much experimentation, like banjo solos, vocal chanting, and more intricate song styles. Two of the tracks are even over 10 minutes long! Honestly, I feel that this album doesn't disappoint in any way... except for some of the lyrics. Those did do become bland after a little while. But since when did vikings have to be poets? Buy it now!

I went to an Ensiferum show with the sole intent of seeing Hypocrisy... their unfortunate immigration problem put a damper on the evening. Despite this disappointment, I decided to go anyway as I'd already made the plans to do so. I went into the show knowing next to nothing about Ensiferum - hadn't even bothered to check out any sound samples to get any ideas, and I had only known what I had read about them here and there. I wasn't expecting anything amazing, but I was pleasantly surprised by their performance and their music. While my taste for this brand of metal has certainly waned over the years, I could appreciate it for what it is - it isn't something that's likely going to come across my iPod very often, but the music is well executed and serves its purpose. I think I'd get the most enjoyment out of this cd while driving along the highway or cleaning my house - it has an energetic, driving nature to it. The musicians are skilled and there's a bit of a thrashy edge to the symphonic nature of the melodies, similar in a way to fellow Finns Children of Bodom, minus the snotty attitude. While its not high on my list of personal favorites, I would certainly recommend it to anyway looking for a new band to check out.

Though they are technically Finns, they play what I can only describe as Viking metal. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's how I see it.

I bought Victory Songs a few years ago, and liked it well enough. However From Afar surpasses that album.

The songs are epic and full of variety, plenty of galloping rhythms, and even some pretty mean guitar solos. Despite the harsh vocals, I am able to actually understand some of the lyrics. I haven't gone into the deeper meanings of the songs yet, but overall, they create a unique and interesting sound that is very well done.

One day, I'd like to see what these guys and girl look like without makeup!

Overall, this is a great example of epic Viking metal, with a bit of folk and traditional mixed in with some serious killer riffs. And, they are not afraid to allow a guitar solo once in a while or throw in other non-metal instruments.

Their best yet. Excellent song-writing, more complex melodies and structures without sacrificing any of their power, and some very interesting and at times surprising elements... a banjo solo, an a cappella performance (Tumman virran taa), and more.

This album has really grown on me in the year since I bought it. The choruses in songs like Smkoking Ruins, underpinned with melodic accompaniment from multiple instruments, are really catchy and I find myself absent-mindedly whistling them.

If you're a fan of earlier Ensiferum, or nordic metal in general, this is a great release to check out. Here's wishing Ensiferum success (so they keep making great music for us...)

I liked the album a lot, especially the title track "From Afar", "Twilight Tavern", "Tumman Virran Taa", and "The Longest Journey (Heathen Throne Part II)".I was occasionally a little unimpressed by the writing in some songs, however, the album is certainly the performance I expected from Ensiferum.